Two parents in North Carolina were arrested after their 1-year-old son was critically injured in a fall from a third-story balcony.
The Wake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Us that authorities learned of the incident when deputies received a report that a child fell from an apartment building’s third floor on Saturday, November 7.
The boy allegedly took a plunge after walking past an “unsecured patio door” while his parents, Saniyah Monchaye Person and Jawon Lee Whitley, were sleeping, according to warrants for arrest viewed by People. He “subsequently fell three stories, sustaining a fractured pelvis and a punctured lung.”
The child was then taken to a nearby hospital for treatment for his life-threatening injuries. His current condition is not known.
Whitley, 28, was arrested on Saturday and has been charged with negligent child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, according to online records. He is currently being held in custody on a $50,000 bond, and he is next scheduled to appear in court on November 30.
Meanwhile, Person, 26, was arrested three days later on Tuesday, November 10, and was charged with negligent child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury. Online court records indicate that her bond has not yet been set. Person is next scheduled to appear in court on December 3.
It’s not currently clear if Person or Whitley have entered pleas or retained legal counsel following their arrests. The Wake County Sheriff’s Office had no additional updates to share when contacted by Us for comments regarding updates in the case.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing as authorities work to determine what events may have led to the boy’s dangerous fall.
The negligent child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury chare is considered a Class E felony in the state of North Carolina.
The punishment varies for those found guilty of the charge depending on several factors, including if the defendant has a prior criminal record and how severe those past charges are. Those found guilty of the charge are often sentenced to serve between 15 to 63 months in prison, according to the Snow Legal Group.
